Quick-opening safety razor having adjustable blade edge exposure



Aug. 26, 1958 M. J. SHNITZLER ETAL 2,848,806

QUICK-OPENING SAFETY RAZOR HAVING ADJUSTABLE BLADE EDGE EXPOSURE FiledNov. 1, 1955- 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventors Meyer J Slmf-zzLer 'dwaroflLewz'eqki Joseph [Yul-0s By zhez'rAztomey 6, 1958 M. J. SHNITZLER ETAL2,348,806

QUICK-OPENING SAFETY RAZOR HAVING ADJUSTABLE BLADE EDGE EXPOSURE FiledNov. 1, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m ww illl/lll Aug. 26, 1958 M. J.SHNITZLER ETAL 2,848,806 QUICK-OPENING SAFETY RAZOR HAVING ADJUSTABLEBLADE EDGE EXPOSURE Filed Nov. 1, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ntors Heyerjs/mitzler lew kl' JOfieph [f 06 M. J. SHNITZLER ETAL 2,848,806

Aug. 26, 1958 QUICK-OPENING SAFETY RAZOR HAVING ADJUSTABLE BLADE EDGEEXPOSURE v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventors J05 eph 17 uros 5y {heir-A zzarneyUnited States Patent QUICK-OPENING SAFETY RAZOR HAVING ADJUSTABLE BLADEEDGE EXPOSURE Meyer Joseph Slmitzler, Brookline, Edward MichaelLewiecki, Hingham, and Joseph Muros, Newtonville, Mass. assignors to TheGillette Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationNovember 1, 1955, Serial No. 544,226

11 Claims. (Cl. 30-605) The present invention relates to safety razorsand in certain respects represents an improvement in quickopening razorsof the type disclosed in Muros Patent No. 2,644,229, granted July 7,1953. However, in its broader aspects it will be recognized that thisinvention is not limited in its use to that or indeed any specific typeof razor or razor construction.

The razor of our present invention may be quickly manipulated either toclamp a blade in shaving position, replace the blade, or retain it onthe razor head in a loose manner While the razor head is being rinsed.Further, our construction provides an adjustment which will enable theuser to control the exposure of the shaving blade to suit his individualrequirements while at the same time providing a razor which will operatewith utmost reliability.

It is an object of our invention to provide a quickopening razor havinga rinse position incorporated in a structure providing means foradjusting the edge exposure of the razor blade, enabling the razor headto be cleaned with the blade retained thereon and then quickly returnedto a pre-adjusted position with the desired exposure of the blade edge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedquick-opening razor of the so-called toggletype.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedrazor construction having means for effecting relative adjustmentbetween a razor guard and the razor blade to vary the edge exposure ofthe blade.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedarrangement for mounting a blade in the head portion of a razor havingmeans for effecting relative adjustment between the guard of the razorand the blade edge.

It is likewise an object of our invention to provide a razor havingmeans for adjusting the edge exposure of the razor blade and means forreleasably maintaining incremental adjustments of that exposure,correlated to externally-visible indicia.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified razorconstruction having readily manipulable means for moving blade-clampingmembers to a fullyopen position for blade replacement, a partially-openposition wherein a blade is loosely retained for rinsing, or a clampedposition when the razor is held for use in shaving. -z one aspect of ourinvention includes a safety razor having a hollow handle, at one end ofwhich is disposed 'aJheadportion wherein are found two members betweenwhich ,a blade may be clamped, one of which connects with. anaxially-movable stem assembly, provided for bringing these members intoand out of blade-clamping =relation. This stern assembly has tworelatively movable members interconnected by a pre-stressed coil spring.A toggle or finger-piece is pivotally connected to a portion of the stemwhich extends beyond the other end of :the hollow handle; thisfinger-piece co-acts with the other end of the handle to impart axialmovement to the stem to bring the mentioned members into clampingrelation under a pre-loaded pressure determined by the pre-stressedspring.

In another aspect our invention comprises a safety razor having a hollowhandle having a head portion disposed at one of its ends. The headportion includes a guard and two members for clamping a blade in shavingrelation with respect to the guard, a manually-adjustable exten siblesubstantially-rigid connection is interposed between one of the membersand the handle. This connection means may be adjusted to establish adesired relationship between the guard and that member. There is furtherprovided manually-operable, motion-transmitting means for bringing theother clamping member into and out of clamping relation. These furthermeans extend through and beyond the other end of the handle.

Yet another aspect of the invention contemplates a safety razor havingimproved means for supporting a blade which is to be adjusted withrespect to a guard member. In this construction a platform is providedhaving upturned edges which preferably are formed with blade-supportingsurfaces of substantial area to prevent introduction of undue stressconcentration when the blade is clamped thereon.

A further aspect of the invention is found in a razor having means foradjusting a blade relative to a guard, with means being provided toreleasably maintain incremental adjustments thereof. This end isaccomplished by detent means which have a fixed relationship to indiciamarkings indicating the adjusted position of the blade.

Additionally another aspect of our invention contemplates a safety razorcomprising a hollow handle having a head portion disposed at one endthereof. This head portion includes two clamping members which arerelatively movable into three different positions, a clamping positionwherein a blade is operatively clamped therebetween for use in shaving,a partially open position in which the razor blade is loosely confinedin the razor head for rinsing, and a fully open position for bladereplacement. Manually operable, motion transmitting means connect withone of the members for controlling its position. These motion-impartingmeans are then provided with three separate and distinct selectablesettings corresponding to the three relative positions of the clampingmembers.

The invention further embraces various combinations of the structuresreferred to in the various aspects described above.

The above and other aspects of the invention will now be more fullydescribed by reference to the accompanying drawings and the particularnovelty thereof pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of ourimproved razor construction shown in readiness for use in shaving;

Fig. 2 is another perspective view of our razor showing the head portionin a partially open or a rinse position;

' Fig. 3 is a further perspective view of our razor showing it in afully open position for blade replacement;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the various elements comprising our razor;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the razor seen in Fig. 1 with certain portionsin longitudinal section;

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5 With the razoradjusted to provide minimum exposure of the blade edge;

Fig. 7 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 6 with the razoradjusted to give a greater exposure of the blade edge;

Fig. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. with certainmotion-transmitting portions shown in a position corresponding to Fig. 2and other portions indicated in phantom, in a position corresponding tothat shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the line 99 in Fig. 5 on an enlargedscale and with the blade-clamping cap sections shown in the positionseen in Fig. 3; and

Fig-.10 is a perspective view of the razors head portion showing the capsections in their fully open position and certain portions of the bladeexposure adjusting means, portions of which are broken away and othersare in section.

The three operative positions of our improved razor arebest seen on thefirst sheet of the accompanying drawings. In Fig. l. the razor is as itwould be when used for shaving. In Fig. 2, the razor is shown in itsrinse position beneath a stream of water indicating how simply it may becleaned'after it has been used; In Fig. 3 the razor is shown in a fullyopen position for replacement of the shaving blade.

This razor, in accordance with the various aspects of the invention, mayinclude a hollow handle 2% at one end of which, conveniently referred toas the upper end, is disposed a head portion 22 whereon a blade B may bemounted for use in shaving. The head portion includes blade-clampingmembers, which are herein illustrated as a platform 24 and cap sections2-6 which serve as a composite clamping member to clamp the blade 3-against the platform 24 for use in shaving.

Conventionally, a guard is provided in safety razors in shaving relationrelative to the blade. In accordance with our-invention, it may take theform of a separate element, as the guard member 28 having guard surfaces36 in shaving relation with respect to the blade B. Thisshaving-relation between the blade and the guard may be varied byestablishing the guard member 28 in a fixed position relative to thehandle 20. Then a manuallyadjustable extensible substantially-rigidconnection, indicated generally by the reference character 32, betweenthe handle 26 and the platform 24 may be manipulated to effect relativeadjustment between the edges of the blade B and the guard surfaces 36(Figs. 6 and 7). Thus theshaving relation of the blade B with respect tothe guard surfaces 36 may be adjusted to suit the needs of theindividual using the razor.

An axially-movable stem, indicated generally by the reference character34 in Fig. 5, may connect with the cap sections 26 through a spider 36to control the relative position between the two blade-clamping membersin the manner described in the lduros Patent No. 2,009,272, dated July23, 1935. Axial movement of this stem may be controlled by afinger-piece or toggle 38 which has three separate and distinctpositions corresponding to the three positions of our razor seen inFigs. l3.

The construction of the head portion 22 of our improved razor isparticularly brought forth in Figs. 4, 6 and 9. pivotally mounted oncross arms 4% extending transversely of the spider 36. Adjacent thesepivotal connections the cap sections are provided with projections 42which engage the undersurface of the guard 28 when the spider 36 movesupwardly thereby causing the cap sections to pivot outwardly and movetoward their open positon. The means for moving the spider 36 will bedescribed in detail below. The spider 36 has the shape of an elongatedbar for locating slotted blades, such as the blade B, on the headportion of the razor.

The platform 24 has upturned edges 44 which provide a plurality of landspreferably having a substantial area against which a blade may beclamped without introducing undue stress concentration therein. Also itwill It will be seen that the cap sections 26 are V 4 be noted that theedges 44 are beveled to provide the correct angle of the blade B withrespect to the guard surfaces 38. This platform arrangement provides ahighly desirable means for mounting a blade in the head portion of arazor, particularly where relative adjustment is to be effected betweenthe blade edge and a guard surface such as the guard surfaces 39.

In our illustrated embodiment we have found, it desirable to provideopenings 4-6 in the guard member 28 through which the upturned edges 44may pass (Fig. 4). It will be noted that the upturned edges thus aredisposed adjacent the guard surfaces 3tl to provide a firm support forthe blade B as it is maintained above the surface of the guard member 28at all times. This particular arrangement is found desirable for usewith our illustrated means for adjusting the shaving relation betweenthe blade B and the guard surfaces 30.

As noted above, the guard member 28 is fixed relative to the handle 29;This may be achieved by spinning or otherwise securing a tubular guardextension 48 to said guard member (Figs. 4 and 6).

or otherwise secured an insert 56. Between the insert 56 and the collar59 there is provided a washer 58 the function of which will be broughtout below. The above construction thus provides a connection between theblade-clampingmember or platform 24 and the handle 20 in which'thefinger knob 54 may be rotated to vary theheight of the blade B clampedthereon by the cap sections 26 with respect to the guard surfaces 39.Thus the shaving relation of the blade B may be varied between theillustrative extremes seen in Figs. 6 and 7. It

will be appreciated that this connection is substantiallyv rigid'due tothe solid metal-to-metal contact of the ole ments between the platform24 and the handle 26. it is well to note that this connection providesadjustment of the platform 24 with respect to a relatively fixed handle20 and guard 28.

Other aspects of the invention are found in further constructionalfeatures of the extensible connection 32.

'Ashas been noted, this connection enables adjustment of the shavingrelation of the blade B relative to the guard 28. It is preferable thatthe user of the razor be able to note a desiredsettingv of thisconnection at a favored shaving relation. It is also desirable that suchsetting be maintainable from blade to blade without being reset eachtime a new blade is put to use. Thus it will be noted thatexternally-visible indicia. 69 are spaced around theouter. surface ofthe finger knob 54 (Figs. 1 and 10). These indicia may be matchedagainsta further mark 62 found on the platform extension 52 to denote thefavored setting of the connection 32. A leaf spring 64 rides within aslot 66 formed in the finger knob insert 56 (Fig. 4). This spring isthus carried with the finger knob 54 as it is rotated to adjust theconnection 37.. A protruding portion 68 of the spring 64 enterslongitudinally finger knob 54- is releasably maintained in an adjustedposition only when one of the indicia 69 is matched against the mark 62.Preferably the indicia 60 are equally spaced around the finger knob 54.It can be seen that The lower end of this. guard extension is pressedinto a collar 50 whichin turn' this construction permits the capsections 26 to be brought into and out of clamping relation withoutaffecting the shaving relation of the clamped blade relative to theguard 28. Furthermore, the established shaving relation cannot bereadily changed through inadvertence.

Referring again to Figs. 4, 9 and 10, an integral finger 72 will be seenprojecting below the main portion of the finger knob insert 56 besidethe washer 58. It will now be noted that the washer 58 has integral dogs74 which enter flutes 76 on the guard extension to prevent relativerotation therebetween. Also formed on the washer 58 is a projection 76which extends into the path of IO- tational movement of the finger 72.In this manner rotation of the finger knob 54 is limited to slightlyless than one revolution as the finger 72 encounters the projection 76in both directions of movement. Thus the shaving relation of the blade Brelative to the guard 28 may be varied only through a fixed range asillustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 and each distinctive indicia 6t) alwaysindicates a given adjustment or setting of the shaving relation.

As indicated above, the position of the composite blade-clamping memberor cap sections 26 is controlled by axial movement of the stem 34, whichalso may be a composite assembly. This stem assembly (Figs. 4, 5 and 8)comprises a shaft 78 fast upon the spider 36, with a stem collar member80 threadably connected to its lower end. Threads 82 may be formed onthe stem collar member 80 to provide attaching means for a coil spring84. This spring in turn is attached by being screwed upon similarthreads 86 formed on a lower stem member 88. It will be noted that thestem collar member 80 and lower member 88 respectively which are broughtinto abutting relation by the spring 84 when the stem assembly 34 is ina position which brings the cap sections 26 to a partially or fully openposition (Fig. 8). This arrangement permits the spring 84 to bemaintained under tension for reasons which will be more fully broughtforth below. The lower portion of the lower stem member 88 is roughlyrectangular in cross section and passes through and beyond a matchinghole in a plug 94 pressed into the lower end of the handle and which incertain respects may be considered an integral part thereof. Thisarrangement prevents relative rotation between any of the components ofthe stem assembly 34 once it is assembled within the handle 20. A secondcoil spring 96 is provided within the handle 20 between the plug 94 andthe collar member 80 urging it and the entire stem assembly 34 at alltimes toward a position wherein the cap sections 26 will be in theirfully open position.

Axial movement of the stem assembly 34 may be controlled by manipulationof the finger-piece 38 which is pivotally connected to the lower stemmember 38 by a pin 98. More precisely the lower portion of the lowerstem member rides within a bifurcation 95 formed in the finger-piece 38(Fig. 5). When the finger-piece 38 is brought into axial alignment withthe handle 20 (Fig. 5) its convex upper end cooperates with a matchingsurface on the plug 94 to maintain this aligned position. It can readilybe seen that when the stem assembly 34 is in a lower-most position, thecap sections 26 have been brought to their blade-clamping position andthe blade B is securely clamped against the upturned edges of theplatform 24. It Will also be noted that the clamping pressure exerted bythe cap sections 26 is imparted thereto through the coil spring 84 andfurther that this pressure is not due to merely elongating the spring 84the slight distance illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8, but is substantiallyhigher due to the fact that the spring 84 is maintained under tension. 7

When it is desired to rinse the present razor, the fingerpiece 38 ispivoted in a clockwise direction (Fig. 8), the the lower stem member 88will move upwardly under the influence of the spring 84 while the entirestem assembly preferably have stems 9t), 92

moves upwardly under the influence of the compression spring 96. Thisupward axial movement of the stem assembly causes the cap sections tomove toward their open position. However, pivotal movement of thefinger-piece 38 in a clockwise direction is limited in magnitude andthus the finger-piece will engage the handle 20 in the manner shown inFig. 8 to limit the upward movement of the stem assembly 34 to aposition wherein the cap sections are in their partially open or rinsingposition. This position of the finger-piece 38 thus corresponds to therinsing position of the razor head portion seen in Fig. 2. The rinseposition of the finger-piece 38 may best be provided by forming one sideof the bifurcation shallower than the other so that an edge 100 limitsthe pivotal movement to a separate and distinct position. It will beseen that a dot 102 or other indicia may be placed on the finger-piece38 as a visual aid to assist the user in pivoting the finger-piece toobtain a desired position of the razor head. Since the bifurcation 95 isrelatively deeper than the edge 100 on its other side when thefinger-piece is pivoted in the opposite direction (counter-clockwise inFig. 8), the spring 96 may urge the stem assembly 34-upwardly to aposition in which the cap sections 26 will fully open, as seen in Fig.3. The fully open position of the cap sections is controlled byengagement of the stem collar member 80 with the underside of the handlecollar 50 and this position may be adjusted by the degree to which thestem collar member 80 is threaded onto the stem shaft 78.

It will further be appreciated that the particular stem arrangementdescribed herein has certain inherent advantages when combined with arazor structure having means for adjusting two cooperatingblade-clamping members with respect to a relatively fixed guard. Thus itwill be seen that when a blade is in a clamped position its shavingrelation with respect to the guard may be varied as by rotating thefinger knob 56. It will be further appreciated that because of thearrangement which provides the tensioned spring 84 through which a clamping pressure is exerted that a minimum clamping pressure may readily beobtained when the blade edge is in its lower position without causingany substantial increase in the clamping pressure as the blade isadjusted to its higher position. In other words, the clamping pressureis obtained from a spring under tension having a relatively flat scaleto give the desired initial clamping pressure; further extension thereofdoes not substantially increase its spring force.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A safety razor comprising a hollow handle, a head portion disposed atone end of said handle and including a platform having upturned edges, aguard member having openings through which the upturned edges of theplatform pass to maintain a blade above the surface thereof andseparable cap sections relatively movable with respect to said guardmember into three difierent positions, comprising a blade-clampingposition wherein the blade is operatively clamped against the upturnededges of said platform for use in shaving, a partially open position inwhich the razor blade is loosely confined in the razor head portion forrinsing, and a fully open position for blade replacement, and a spidercarrying said cap sections, a tubular extension havinglongitudinally-extending flutes affixed to said guard member extendingcoaxially of and secured to said handle, an extension aflixed to saidplatform surrounding the guard extension and also extending co-axiallyof said handle, a finger knob threaded onto said platform extension andbottoming against said handle, said finger knob being adjustable toestablish a desired height of the upturned platform edges with respectto the guard member, a detent spring carried by saidprojecting portionadapted to finger knob and having a v enter the flutes in the guardextension to releasably main- .finger knob when an indicia markedthereon is in alignment with the mark providedvon the platformextension,

an axially-movable stem assembly for bringing said cap sections into thethree aforementioned positions, said stem assembly comprising two.relatively movable members and a coil spring interconnecting thesemembers under tension, said stem assembly being fastened to said spiderand extending through and beyond the other end of said handle, a springurging said stem assembly towards a position wherein said cap sectionsare in their fully open position, a finger-piece pivotally mounted onsaid stem to co-act with said other end of said handle when brought inaxially alignment therewith to overcome the actionto f said spring andthereby maintain said cap sections in their blade-clamping position, andmeans limiting the pivotal movement of said finger-piece in onedirection to a definite position wherein said spring imparts axialmovements to said stem assembly, limited by further engagement of saidfinger-piece with said other end of said handle, to bring said capsections to their partially open position, said finger-piece being freeto pivot in the other direction a greater distance suficient to allowaxial movement to be imparted to said stem by said spring to cause. thecap sections to assume their fully open position; 1

,2. A safety razor comprising a hollow handle, a head portion disposedat one end of said handle and including a guard ,and'two blade-clampingmembers relatively movable into three different positions comprising abladeclamping position wherein a blade is operatively clampedtherebetween for use in shaving, a partially open position in which therazor blade is loosely confined in the razor head portion for rinsing,and a fully open position for blade, replacement, a manually-adjustableextensible rigid :connection between said handle and one of said membersfor adjusting the setting of thelatter relative to the guard, anaxially-movable stem assembly for controlling the position of the otherof said members, said stem assembly comprising two relatively movablemembers and a coil spring'interconnecting the stern members undertension, said stem assembly connecting with one of said blade-clampingmembers and extending through and beyond the other end of said handle, afinger-piece pivotall'y connected to the stem assembly for imparting theaforesaid axial movement to said stem assembly to control the relationbetween said clamping members, and selectable means having threeseparate and distinct settings for limitingthe aforesaid axial movementof the stem assembly-to threepositions corresponding to the threerelative positions of the blade-clamping members.

3. A safety razor comprising avhollow handle, a head portion disposed atone end of said handle and including a platform having upturned edges, aguard member having openings through which the upturned edges of theplatform pass to maintain therblade above the surface thereof, andseparable cap sections for clamping a razor blade against the edges ofsaid platform in shaving relation withrespect to said guard, a tubularextension alfixed to said guard member-and secured to said handleestablishing a fixed relationship therebetween, an extension afiixed tosaid platform concentrically of and surrounding the guard extension, afinger knob threaded onto said platform extension and bottoming againstsaid handle, said finger knob being adjustable to establish a desiredheight of the platform edges with respect to the guard member, anaxially-movable stem assembly for bringing said cap sections into andoutof bladeeclamping relation,

said-stem assembly comprising two relatively movable members and a coilspring interconnecting the stem members under tension, said, Stemassemblyconnectingl' with said cap sections andextending through andbeyond,

the other end of said handle, and a finger-piece pivotally connectedtorthe stem assembly for imparting the aforesaid axial movement to saidstem assembly to bring'said cap sections into and out of blade-clampingrelation.

4. A safety razor comprising a hollow handle, a head portion disposedatone end of said'handle and including a platform having upturnededges, aguard member having openings through which the upturned edges of theplatform pass to maintain the blade above the surface of the guardmember, and separable cap sections for clamping a razor blade againstthe edges of said platform in shaving relation with respect to saidguard member, a tubular extension having longitudinally-extending flutesaffixed to the guard member, extending co-axially of and secured to saidhandle, an extension aflixed to' said platform surrounding the guardextension and also extending co-axially of said handle, a finger knobthreaded onto the platform extension and bottoming against said handle,said finger knob being adjustable to'establish a desired height of theplatform edges with respect to the guard member, a detent spring carriedby said finger knob and having a projecting portion adapted to enter theflutes in the guard extension to releasably maintain adjustedincremental positions of the finger knob, and manually-operablemotion-transmitting means for bringing said cap sections into andtout ofclamping relation with said platform, said motion-transmitting meansconnecting with said capsections and extending through and beyond theother end of said handle.

5. A safety razor comprising a hollow handle, a head portion disposed atone end of said handle and including a platform having upturned edges, aguard'mem-' ber having openings through which the upturned edges of theplatform pass to maintain the blade above the surface of the guardmember, and separablegcap sections for clamping a razor blade againstthe edges of said platform in shaving relation with respect to saidguard member, a tubular extension afiixed to the guard member andsecured to said handle establishing a fixed relationship therebetween,an extension afiixedito said platform concentrically of and surroundingsaid guard extension, a finger knob threaded onto said platformextension and bottoming against said handle, said finger knob beingadjustable to establish adesired height of the platform edges withrespect to the guard member, and manually-operable motion-transmittingmeans'for bringing said cap sections into and out. of blade-clampingrelation with said platform, said motion-transmitting means fconnectingwith said cap sections and extending through and beyond theother end of said handle.

6. A safety razor comprising a hollow handle, a head portion disposed atone end of said handle'andincluding a platform having upturned edgesagainst which a blade mey be clamped, a guard member having openingsthrough which the upturned edges of the platform pass to maintain theblade abovethe surfaceof the guard mem-' ber, and separable cap sectionsfor clamping a razor blade against the edges of said platform in shavingrelation with respect to said guard member, a tubular extension havinglongitudinally extendingflutes affixed to said guard member, extendingco-axially of and secured to said handle, an extension afiixed to saidplatform co axially of said handle and surrounding the guard extension,a finger knob threaded onto the platform extensionand bottoming againstsaid handle, said finger knob being adjustable to establish a desiredheight of the platform edges with respect to the guard member, saidfinger knob having indicia in spaced relationship around itsoutersurface which may be matched against a mark provided on the platformextension, a detent'spring carried by said finger knob arranged to entersaid flutes and thereby releasably maintain said finger knob in anadjusted position, the relationships between said indicia, mark, detentspring and flutes being such that the detent spring is effective inreleasaoly maintaining said finger knob when an indicia marked thereonis in alignment with the mark provided on the platform extension, andmanually-operable motion-imparting means for bringing said cap sectionsinto and out of clamping relation with said platform, saidmotion-imparting means connecting with said cap sections and extendingthrough and beyond the other end of said handle.

7. A safety razor comprising a hollow handle, a head portion disposed atone end of said handle and including a guard and two bladeclampingmembers between which a blade may be clamped in shaving relation withrespect to said guard, a manually-adjustable extensible rigid connectionbetween said handle and one of said members for determining the settingof the latter relative to the guard, externally-visible indiciaassociated with said connection for indicating selected incrementalpositions thereof, detent means for releasably maintaining saidextensible connection at the various positions shown by the indicia, andmanually-operable motiontransmitting means for bringing the other ofsaid members into and out of blade-clamping relation, said meansconnecting with said last-mentioned member and extending through andbeyond the other end of said handle.

8. A safety razor comprising a hollow handle, a head portion disposed atone end or" said handle and including a member against which a blade maybe clamped, a pair of separable cap sections cooperating therewith toclamp a flexible blade in shaving relation and a spider carrying saidcap sections, an axially-movable stem assembly for bringing said capsections into and out of blade-clamping relation, said stern assemblybeing connected to said spider and extending through and beyond theother end of said handle, said stem including a shaft portion fast uponsaid spider, a collar stem member adjustably threaded into said shaftportion, a lower stem-member which is in abutting relationship with saidcollar stem member when said cap sections are out of clamping relationwith the clamp member, and a coil spring interconnecting said collarstem member and said lower stem-member, said coil spring being undertension when said last-mentioned members are in abutting relationship, asecond coil spring within said handle surrounding said stem and actingagainst said collar stem member to impart movement to said sternassembly toward a position wherein said cap sections are out of clampingposition, abutment means within said handle for limiting said movementas defined by the adjustment between said collar stem member and saidstem shaft, and a finger-piece pivotally connected to said stem assemblyfor imparting the aforesaid axial movement to said stem against theaction of said second spring to control the relation between said capsections and said clamp member.

9. A safety razor comprising a hollow handle, a head portion disposed atone end of said handle and including two blade-clamping membersrelatively movable into three different positions comprising ablade-clamping position wherein a blade is operatively clampedtherebetween for use in shaving, a partially open position in which therazor blade is loosely confined in the razor head portion for rinsing,and a fully open position for iade replacement, an axiaily-movable stemfor controilin the position of one said members, said stem connectingwith said member and extending through and beyond the other end of saidhandle, a spring urging said stern towards a position wherein saidmembers are in their fully open position, a finger-piece pivotallymounted on said stem to coact with said other end of said handle whenbrought in axial alignment therewith to overcome the action of saidspring and thereby maintain said mem ers in their blade-clampingposition, and means limiting the pivotal movement of said finger-piecein one dir tion to a definite position when said spring imparts axialmovement to said stem, limited by further engagement of saidfinger-piece with said other end of said handle to bring said clampingmembers to their partially open position, said finger-piece being freeto pivot in the other direction a greater distance suificient to allowaxial movement to be imparted to said stem by said spring to cause theblade-clamping members to assume their fully open position.

10. A safety razor as described in claim 9 in which the stem enters abifurcated portion of the finger-piece and in which the bifurcation isshallower on one side than on the other to provide means for limitingthe pivotal motion of the finger-piece when thrown in said direction tocause the clamping members to assume their rinse position.

11. A safety razor having a hollow handle, a head portion disposed atone end of said handle and including two blade-clamping membersrelatively movable into three different positions comprising ablade-clamping position wherein a blade is operatively clampedtherebetween for use in shaving, a partially open position in which therazor blade is loosely confined in the razor head portion for rinsing,and a fully open position for blade replacement, and manually-operablemotion-transmitting means connecting with one of said members forcontrolling the position thereof, said means extending through andbeyond the other end of said handle and selectable stop means connectingwith said motion-transmitting means and having separate and distinctsettings corresponding to the three relative positions of the clampingmembers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,755,726 Conill Apr. 22, 1930 2,312,503 Testi Mar. 2, 1943 2,369,685Nelson Feb. 20, 1945 2,561,610 Bruneau July 24, 1951 2,644,229 MurosJuly 7, 1953 2,754,583 Liberatore July 17, 1956 2,769,232 Leonard Nov.6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 72,424 Denmark Apr. 16, 1951

